The Maryland Historical Society (MdHS) proudly announces the opening of its popular traveling exhibition of the work of photojournalist Paul Henderson on February 2, 2016 at Morgan University’s James E. Lewis Museum of Art. This exhibit is nearly twice as large as the show currently on display at MdHS and is free and open to the public. It features over 30 never-before-publically-exhibited Henderson works that focus on MSU. The show will be up through the end of March.

Paul Henderson’s work is an invaluable visual record of both the Civil Rights movement and everyday life in Maryland. He may be best known as the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper’s first photographer, starting at the paper in 1929. From 1947 through 1955, Henderson spent a lot of time on the campus of Morgan State College (now University). semi-retiring in 1960. Talented and prolific, he created a body of more than 7,000 images, most of them unidentified, by subject or location, at the time of his death in 1988. MdHS has been working for over five years to put names to people and places.

Paul Henderson: Photographing Morgan features an interactive component, as MdHS continues its research to identify the people and locations in Henderson’s photos. Most of the prints containing unidentified people and places are accompanied by QR codes that will connect smartphone users to an online survey where information can be submitted. Identification forms will also be available in the gallery.

Paul Henderson: Photographing Morgan was curated by Joe Tropea. An opening reception will be held at the James E. Lewis Museum of Art on Feb. 11, 4:30pm–6:30pm. 2201 Argonne Dr. Baltimore, MD 21251

Paul Henderson exhibition, MdHS, February 2012. Photo by James Singewald.

Paul Henderson exhibition, MdHS, February 2012. Photo by James Singewald.

Paul Henderson exhibition, MdHS, February 2012. Photo by James Singewald.

Paul Henderson exhibition, MdHS, February 2012. Photo by James Singewald.

Paul Henderson exhibition, MdHS, February 2012. Photo by James Singewald.

Paul Henderson exhibit opened the same night as the Seen & Heard panel discussion.

PROGRAM: SEEN AND HEARD: MARYLAND’S CIVIL RIGHTS ERA IN PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORAL HISTORIES
FEBRUARY 23, 2012, MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Introduction by Dr. Skipp Sanders, Executive Director of the Reginald F. Lewis of Maryland African American History & Culture; Moderated by John Gartrell, archivist at the AFRO newspaper archives.
Panelists: Larry Gibson, Professor of Law at University of Maryland and author of Young Thurgood: The Making of a Supreme Court Justice (2012); Dr. Helena Hicks, Civil Rights activist and educator; Dr. Barry Lanman, Director of the Martha Ross Center for Oral History and Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland Baltimore County; Dr. Michelle Scott, Associate Professor in the Africana Studies Department, the Gender and Women’s Studies Program, and the Language, Literature, and Cultural Doctoral Program at University of Maryland Baltimore County; and William F. Zorzi, writer for HBO’s “The Wire” and previously writer and editor for The Sun.

Paul Henderson exhibit opened the same night as the Seen & Heard panel discussion.

REVISITING OUR PAST: IDENTIFYING PAUL HENDERSON’S PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN MARYLAND, ca. 1935-1965APRIL 7, 2013, MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MdHS and the Pierians Inc. Baltimore Chapter jointly hosted in event. Roughly 120 people went to MdHS to identify people and places in Henderson’s photographs. Considering 90% of the 7,000+ photographs are unidentified, while processing the collection I created reference binders that contain positive images of each of Henderson’s photographs. The binders were copied and distributed to each table for the attendees to look through.

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TRAVELING EXHIBIT:PAULHENDERSON: BALTIMORE’S CIVIL RIGHTS ERA IN PHOTOGRAPHS, ca. 1940-1960MAY – JUNE 2013, BALTIMORE CITY HALL
Baltimore City Hall approached Maryland Historical Society staff about displaying Henderson’s photographs in the rotunda. The exhibit was curated by Jennifer A. Ferretti and Joe Tropea. All installation photos were taken by James Singewald.

Installation view: Henderson Photo Exhibit at Baltimore City Hall.

Installation view: Henderson Photo Exhibit at Baltimore City Hall.

Installation view: Morgan State University panel, Henderson Photo Exhibit at Baltimore City Hall.

QR codes and paper surveys were used for crowdsourcing identification information.